Brooklyn Decker and other hot models who act

Brooklyn Decker is not just a pretty face. The Sports Illustrated swimsuit model has two movies opening this weekend. It's practically a Brooklyn Decker Film Festival. Continue through the slideshow to see other top models who took up acting.PHOTO BY JASON MERRITT, GETTY IMAGES, TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Here are four words you never expected to hear in this lifetime – "Brooklyn Decker Film Festival."

The former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model has two movies opening this weekend, which is something that Meryl Streep, Annette Bening and Kate Winslet wish they could say.

The 25-year-old Decker, who has been married to tennis pro Andy Roddick for three years, stars in the big-budget, special effects-laden war movie "Battleship" and the pregnancy comedy "What to Expect When You're Expecting." Both films open Friday.

In the former, Decker plays the daughter of an admiral (Liam Neeson in a shameless grab for a big paycheck in a small, meaningless role) who frowns upon his daughter's new boyfriend (played by Taylor Kitsch of "Friday Night Lights"). Decker essentially is being paid to look great, and she performs that role admirably. Her acting skills, honed in three TV guest appearances and one previous movie ("Just Go With It"), are not really tested in this summer action film.

However, she is the best thing about "What to Expect When You're Expecting." The movie, based on the best-selling pregnancy book of the same name, focuses on five couples facing the end of their carefree, childfree years.

Her character is a superwoman who handles pregnancy as easily as some people handle a trip to the supermarket. She appears at first to be just an empty-headed trophy wife, but her character develops nicely, and her portrayal is more memorable than those of her bigger-name co-stars, including Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz.

Born in Ohio, Decker grew up in North Carolina, where she was discovered at 16 while walking through a mall. She began modeling professionally, and was first featured in Sports Illustrated in its celebrated swimsuit issue in 2006. She has appeared in every annual issue since, and in 2010, was the Sports Illustrated cover model.

Her move from modeling to acting is not unprecedented. Many models have moved into acting, and some of them are among the most successful actresses in Hollywood history.

Brooklyn Decker is not just a pretty face. The Sports Illustrated swimsuit model has two movies opening this weekend. It's practically a Brooklyn Decker Film Festival. Continue through the slideshow to see other top models who took up acting. PHOTO BY JASON MERRITT, GETTY IMAGES, TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
When Brooklyn Decker attended the premiere of her movie "Battleship," she did more for Navy recruiting than the Village People. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERMARILYN MONROE – Perhaps you have heard of her? She was a model long before she was an actress (does the word “calendar” ring a bell?), but that part of her history has been lost in the excitement of a movie career that actually defines the words “movie stardom.” She may have opened the door for all of the models who followed. PHOTO COURTESY OF TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERHALLE BERRY – When she climbed out of the water in the James Bond flick “Die Another Day,” wearing nothing but an orange bikini and a smile, hearts fluttered and pulses quickened. She earned an Oscar for a different role (“Monster's Ball”), but that bikini shot was a pleasant reminder that she used to be a fashion model. PHOTO COURTESY OF MGM; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERCAMERON DIAZ – She doesn't have an Oscar to call her own, but she has the impeccable timing of a professional comic, and the long legs of a former model. Both were on display in her naughty role in “Bad Teacher.” PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA PICTURES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERCHARLIZE THERON – Another former model with an Oscar (“Monster”), she has had a solid acting career. But that new advertising campaign, in which she appears opposite Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly through the magic of film trickery, is stark evidence that this woman has been, and always will be, a model. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERANGELINA JOLIE – Yet another former model with an Oscar on her mantle (“Girl, Interrupted”), the actress takes on diverse acting challenges, but when she slips into a skintight outfit like the one in her Lara Croft movies, it's like a slap in the forehead – “Oh, that's right, she used to be a model.” PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERMARK WAHLBERG – After he rapped as Marky Mark, and long before he led his entourage around Hollywood, Wahlberg was the face and abs of Calvin Klein, showing off his body in front of the whole world. PHOTO COURTESY OF CALVIN KLEIN; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERMEGAN FOX – Born in Tennessee, she started acting on television (she played the housekeeper's sexy granddaughter on “Two and a Half Men”), but stunned adolescent boys everywhere when she starred in “Transformers.” PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERMILLA JOVOVICH – The Ukranian-born model made a smooth transition to acting through the “Resident Evil” zombie films. Some cynics have said that models are zombies with nice shoulders, so it makes sense. PHOTO COURTESY OF IMPACT PICTURES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERCHRISTIE BRINKLEY – She was one of the most successful models of all time, and she may have been hired as eye candy in “National Lampoon's Vacation,” but her portrayal of Chevy Chase's fantasy woman, first in a sports car and then in a swimming pool, was unforgettable. PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERFREIDA PINTO – Before her acting career went international in “Slumdog Millionaire,” this Indian actress was a top model, and her modeling career has taken off again as her acting introduces her to new audiences. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERCHANNING TATUM – Like many actors, he paid the bills with modeling assignments when he was starting out, and now people are discovering what modeling agents knew all along. He's OK, if you like the type – tall, buff and good-looking. Recently starred in "21 Jump Street." PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA PICTURES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERCOURTENEY COX – Remember that Bruce Springsteen music video when he reached into the audience at a concert and pulled a young woman up to the stage to dance with him? Everybody knew that lucky woman was no ordinary stranger. She was a model, but who ever dreamed that she would grow up to be one of the “Friends” on TV? PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERREBECCA ROMIJN – When she was in high school, the moron guys at her school would tease her and call her the “Jolly Blond Giant.” The 5-foot-10 student got even by modeling, and met her future husband John Stamos at a Victoria Secret fashion show. They have since divorced, but her acting career is still going strong. Ho Ho Ho. PHOTO COURTESY OF TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELY – She replaced Megan Fox in the “Transformers' franchise, and she didn't seem to have the same effect on young boys. Not that anyone noticed. PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERELIZABETH HURLEY – Her modeling career was huge before she made the transition to acting, and it continues to be a lucrative second career. Although her acting career hasn't been too successful, it managed to survive the film “Bedazzled.” PHOTO COURTESY OF TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERCHACE CRAWFORD - His boyish good looks served him well in modeling, before he made the leap to acting in the TV series “Gossip Girl” and now movies. He stars opposite Jane Fonda and Elizabeth Olsen in the upcoming comedy-drama “Peace, Love and Misunderstanding.” PHOTO COURTESY OF IFC FILMS; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERDIANE KRUGER – When filmmakers were looking for the perfect face to play Helen of Troy in the film “Troy,” they found it in the face of this German-born model. She has since found success in films opposite Nicolas Cage (“National Treasure”) and Liam Neeson (“Unknown”). PHOTO COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY PICTURES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERLIV TYLER – Born into rock ‘n' roll royalty (she's the daughter of Steven Tyler of Aerosmith), she could have coasted in life, but those long legs, those puffy lips and that gorgeous face would not be denied. She modeled, appeared in her dad's videos and then found success in movies, including “That Thing You Do,” directed by Tom Hanks. PHOTO COURTESY OF TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERBROOKE SHIELDS – This is a chicken and egg question – which came first, Brooke's modeling career or her acting career? It's a toss-up, and “The Blue Lagoon” was one of her earliest acting efforts. PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA PICTURES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERCINDY CRAWFORD – One of the modeling world's superstars, her acting career was not quite as impressive (“Fair Game” was an early attempt), but she has remained a major player in the Hollywood celebrity game. PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERJOSH DUHAMEL AND TYRESE GIBSON – Two pretty-boy models who made the inevitable jump to acting, and appeared together as soldiers in “Transformers.” PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERANDIE MACDOWELL – Her acting career has been so solid that many people forget that she was a top model. One of my favorites is her performance in “Groundhog Day” as the long-suffering TV news producer having to deal with the pompous weatherman Bill Murray. PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA PICTURES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERVANESSA WILLIAMS – After the controversial end to her beauty pageant career, she turned to modeling (with those eyes, how could she NOT be a model) and then moved smoothly into acting, and eventually joined the “Desperate Housewives.” PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERTYRA BANKS – Before she was the Donald Trump of former models, Tyra was the biggest model in the world, and even tried her hand at acting (did you see her in “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air?”), but she showed more talent as a mogul than an actress. PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERANTONIO SABATO JR. – The underwear model tried his hand at acting (daytime soaps), and is still better-known as a model than an actor. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERELLE MACPHERSON – Like Tyra Banks, she was the biggest model in the world when she tried acting. She showed a willingness to get naked on the big screen (“Sirens”) but it didn't help her acting career. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERCARRIE-ANNE MOSS – The model became a star when she was cast as Trinity in the groundbreaking film “The Matrix.” PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERLAUREN HUTTON – One of the first models to find success in movies, she was a respected actress in films such as “American Gigolo” and “Zorro: The Gay Blade.” PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERKIM BASINGER – The actress, who started as a model, made a huge name for herself in acting, and one of her hottest roles was opposite Mickey Rourke in “9 1/2 Weeks.” PHOTO COURTESY OF GALACTIC FILMS; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERASHTON KUTCHER – A model-turned-actor-turned-tweeter. PHOTO COURTESY OF CBS; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Rihanna and Brooklyn Decker co-star in the war movie "Battleship." Who would have guessed? PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The only good reason to watch tennis is to watch Brooklyn Decker watching her husband Andy Roddick play a match at the U.S. Open. That's one man's opinion. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Just a shameless excuse to run another photo of Brooklyn Decker. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES; TEXT BY BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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